Week three is here and now we will begin to see the surviving competitors begin to separate themselves from each other.

Only one can walk away with the title MDV Idol.

Will it be you?

At this point, you may notice that we are going down a certain path. First you created a Revolutionary, a person of great thoughts with enough guts to insert himself into the public eye and force change on them. You then created his first mate, a Henchman who follows the Revolutionary and does his bidding. What does this show as a pattern?

We are writing a story! The story you are writing begins in a peaceful period of time, full of your Tribes glory days. Then along came a man who decided that he knew best and changed things. He even attracted people to his cause. Yet there is something missing in the story.

That something is the ‘how’. How did he do it?

This round, we will decide the fate of the original regime that our Revolutionary has discarded, oh, and make no mistake about it… He was victorious in his coup attempt.

What the hell was that...?

…

OOOK! *clears his throat*

Dictionary.com defines a ‘Coup’ as: a highly successful, unexpected stroke, act, or move; a clever action or accomplishment. (Note that it says, successful.)

Your Revolutionary began his attempt at usurping power politically. He spoke to the crowds, to the leaders, even to the drunken fellows in the bar. He spoke, talked, and pleaded until finally he could not take it anymore. His words had bounced harmlessly off of their faces, and thus he was left with no choice… He would use force to change the world as everyone knew it.

This is where you, the designer, come in. You are to tell me the story of how the coup occurred. Where did it happen? How did it all happen?

Before you get to thinking and brainstorming, I want you to relax for a moment. You are not writing an essay. You are designing a single card. The entire story must be represented in the presentation of the card. We are still retaining the rule about not using images, so you must detail your card. Describe your art of choice. Paint the picture (to the best of your abilities) through words. Your words cannot be links to an image. Give the card a tastefully appropriate name and give it abilities fitting to the event itself. Finally, wrap the entire package up with enough of a flavor text that will seal the deal, yet still fit on a card (and be readable).

Limitations for your design are as follows:

• Your card must represent your event that spins your tribal community into revolution.
• Your card must be either a sorcery or enchantment.
• The card must be tribal, and the same tribe as your Revolutionary.
• Your card must be tied directly to your Revolutionary (ie. His actions or directions.)

One item I want to emphasize… You must not say a single word in your submission beyond the card entry. Do not have a spoiler. Do not ask how the card did. Do not say anything except the cards design. The card itself is all you are allowed to post this time, as it needs to stand alone. Alone, it must tell the story.

Now, I will outline my desi… what?

…

Another commercial?

…

No! Tell them to blow it out their …

…

NO! I’m running this gig, and I say no more commercials!!

WHAT THE HECK IS THAT@! *looking above his head at the glowing sign* I just said, NO commercials! What does that mean? It means NO commercials! Get that thing off the screen!~!

…..

….

…

..

.

There, that should about do it. You just can’t get good help these days. *EHEM!*

In my previous shows, I detailed for your first my Revolutionary:

Then came my Henchman:

Now, comes my favorite part of the contest; the dealing of P A I N! *rubs his grubby hands together…*

Using my examples, we know my card will be the following:

[Name][Cost]
Artwork
Tribal [Sorcery/Enchantment] – Human
[Ability]
[Flavor Text]

Now I need to tell you the story of how Thananite came into power. You tell me if you can visualize the coup:

Disorderly Conduct – RR3
ART – The building from the card Replenish with flames leaping out of the door after the people trying to escape from the building.
Tribal Sorcery – Human
Gain control of all Humans and Knights, they gain haste until end of turn. Disorderly Conduct deals damage to all non-Red creatures equal to the number of Knights you control.
‘The Knight’s coup came in like a tidal wave of blood and swords.’

He came, he saw, and he kicked a little butt!

The card represents the turning of all the Knights against the Order and the subsequent attack that left the leaders for dead. It also shows the tenacity of the attack, as not only does the spell deal an initial amount of damage to all the non-Red creatures (remembering that Thananite makes your newly acquired Knights Red), when you get to attack afterward, those creatures also are available for attack, which then in turn deal a point of damage each due to Thananites attacking ability. Needless to say, the resulting party was not a nice one for the now crumbled White Knights.

Now it is your turn. Show the Judges and the MDV fans what you’ve got. Show your tribe no mercy. Strike them down with a furry unmatched in their history. Leave no stone unturned, and leave no piece of the story untold. I love blood almost as much as I love guts!

*The lights begin to fade to black, yet don’t turn completely dark. You feel as if the camera is paning to your right and when the lights again brighten, you now see the New Blood Judging panel sitting three across with dubious looks on their faces…*

Yp Dawgs, let’s get these grades going. Its not going to be pretty either. If you are weak in the stomach, stop reading now, cause we aren’t messing around…

*waits a few moments*

Let’s begin then…

boobers
Score: 3
Flavor Text: 2 Play-ability: 2
Originality: 4.5 Contest Flavor: 3.5

Lysmurk, Pious Specter - 2WB
Legendary Creature - Specter Cleric
At the beginning of your upkeep, you lose 2 life.
Whenever a specter you control would deal combat damage to an opponent, prevent that damage. That player loses life equal to that creature's power and you gain 1 life for each card in that player's hand.
WB: Target specter gets +2/+2 until end of turn. Return target card from an opponent's graveyard to his or her hand.
"Do not ignore the light... like darkness, chaos and cunning, it is merely a force for us to wield against our enemies." - Lysmurk
2/2

Okay, I know the idea was to go for a totally new direction. However, this is a bit too much. Specter Cleric? Seriously? Anyway, here was my major issue with how you did it. I'm looking at a story here, when it should be a card. There is such a thing as too much. I think you got the flavor of the contest down, but totally dropped the ball on the implementation.

CoglineErro
Score: 3.375
Flavor Text: 3 Play-ability: 2.5
Originality: 4 Contest Flavor: 4

Gorgo, Mountain Healer - 4W
Legendary Creature- Ogre Barbarian
T: Prevent all damage that would be dealt this turn to target attacking creature.
"We try to die gloriously in battle, yet this one will not allow us."
3/3

I'm feeling this entry as someone really trying to do it right. But when I look at it I keep saying...where's the fire, the passion, the heat? This is the Volkswagon Jetta of entries. It gets you where you need to go, but you definitely don't look cool when you show up. You gotta bring it dawg.

Eldros
Score: 3.125
Flavor Text: 5 Play-ability: 4
Originality: 2 Contest Flavor: 1.5

Galnaar, the Named - 3WB
Legendary creature -- Thrull Cleric
Whenever a Thrull is put into a graveyard from play, target opponent sacrifice a non-Thrull creature.
Sacrifice a Thrull: Return a Thrull from your graveyard to your hand.
"Today a Thrull insisted that I should give him a name, I swear he will be the death of me." - Endrek Sahr Notes
3/4

I wanted to really like this entry. I mean you played right into my bread and butter. First you picked a character I really love, and then you picked one of my favorite eras and tribes. Then you missed the ball! I saw you working on it, and really wanted to say "Wow, dawg!" But you gotta do your own thing, show us what you have. I mean I could step in and show you how to bat, but that's me batting not you. A named Thrull should attach value to life and resist sacrifice.

death by aggro
Score: 3
Flavor Text: 5 Play-ability: 3
Originality: 1 Contest Flavor: 3

Xirxom, the Rage Tower - 1RR
Legendary Creature- Wall
Defender
Other Walls you control lose Defender and must attack each turn if able.
Whenever a Wall you control attacks, it gains +X/+0, where X is that creature's toughness.
Such blind hatred cannot be contained in mere steel and mortar.
0/3

Walls have been done! Over and over. However, you really sold me a solid one with that flavor text. I thought it went a little too far against the grain basing on toughness in Red though. Red walls typically pack a little power too, so in the end this just felt flat to me.

Azrael Subucni
Score: 4
Flavor Text: 4 Play-ability: 3
Originality: 5 Contest Flavor: 4

Lulesca, the Dry - 2BG
Legendary Creature - Vampire Druid
Flying, Trample
B/G: Put a +1/+1 counter on target Vampire. Play this ability no more than once each turn.
"Too long, we have been slaves to The Thirst. There must be another way..."
2/2

I loved this little Vampire. I always thought Vampires were a little weak anyway. Allowing you to use mana to pump them up permanently was pretty cool, drawing life from nature instead of blood way cool. I can't find much wrong to say about this entry, so I won't. Good work, keep it up.

Tekkactus
Score: 3.875
Flavor Text: 3 Play-ability: 2.5
Originality: 5 Contest Flavor: 5

The Cettritzl Society - 1UU
Legendary Creature- Cephalid Artificer
Shroud
0: Choose a permanent you control. Target player gains control of that permanent and you shuffle up to X cards from your graveyard into your library, where X is the number of Cephalids you control. Play this ability only at any time you could play a Sorcery.
Lead by example.
1/2

Why in the heck would you pick Cephalids, one of the most obscure bizarre tribes in the game? I really had to do my homework on this one, and found it to be truly on the contest mark for Oddessy era Cephies. The flavor text was way weak, and the card is definitely janky. However it was well made jank, and that's what counts.

19 - Relentless Poker
Score: 3.375
Flavor Text: 3 Play-ability: 4
Originality: 3 Contest Flavor: 3.5

Ging Deathsting - 4B
Legendary Creature - Insect
Shroud
Insect creatures you control get +6/+0 and can't block.
It's the bugs' time to squash!
0/1

I looked at this. I saw the shroud. I saw the 6/1 Insect. Then I said to myself… why am I looking at Deadly Insect again? I thought we were supposed to be going against the mold. Then I thought about and looked at all the Insects. With the exception of some rather large Worms and other crazy near Beast-like Insects, this really did go against the overall norm of them buggies. I was set to rail it, but in the end gave it a little love.

Oh… my turn!?

*shuffles papers a bit*

Mad Mat
Score: 3.56
Flavor Text: 3 Play-ability: 4.75
Originality: 3.5 Contest Flavor: 3

Arkan the Mangler - 3GG
Legendary Creature - Elf Warrior
Trample
Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player, destroy target artifact, enchantment or nonbasic land.
Activated abilities of creatures with T in their cost can't be played.
"Curse the elves and their cult of beauty. Curse the elves and their perversion of nature. Gaea is cruel, Gaea is merciless, and so are we." - Arkan the Mangler
4/4

A rebelling Green elf? So it's still in the same section of the pie but has a different zip code... Sure, the creativity shown in this is what I should come to expect of members of this forum. But anyway, the flavor text is begrudgingly good, if a little bit predictable in places and although control of this nature isn't unknown the flavor involved in the tribe chosen is worth a nod or two.

hamsandwich
Score: 3.5
Flavor Text: 3.5 Play-ability: 5
Originality: 3 Contest Flavor: 2.5

Augustin, Vicar of the Prophet - w/b w/b w/b w/b w/b
Legendary Creature- Human Advisor
Protection from creatures
Whenever an advisor you control becomes tapped you may pay b/w b/w b/w. If you do, sacrifice it and destroy target creature, artifact, or enchantment.
Whenever an advisor you control is put into a graveyard from play, put a +1/+1 counter on ~.
“The white flag of truce can be our greatest weapon; the blood of the martyr, our greatest strength…” - Augustin, Vicar of the Prophet
3/5

Dear ladies and gentlemen, I advise you to steer clear of religious cogitations - Big bad Ty might get offended and we don't need that; although the image is a funny one (Or is it just me). So let's see; a "Vicar" constitutes an "Advisor".... Yeah; moving on.

Kinghonkey
Score: 3.5
Flavor Text: 3 Play-ability: 4.25
Originality: 3.75 Contest Flavor: 3

Janus, Renegade Commander - 2WB
Legendary Creature- Human Mercenary Rebel
Each Mercenary and Rebel card in your graveyard has unearth WB.
1WB: Remove a Rebel or Mercenary you control from the game, destroy target artifact, creature or enchantment.
"It matters not who, or what, we recruit. We will prevail, no matter the cost."
2/2

Look - It's Mal were he made a card; it even sounds like him when you read it out: "White is Bad, Black is Good. I don't know who I'm fighting for! I fight for truth, liberty and the innocence of man; But I expect to get paid for this." - Identity crisis, they name is Janus

Robb
Score: 3.75
Flavor Text: 3.5 Play-ability: 3.75
Originality: 3.75 Contest Flavor: 4

Azreal, Angel of Death - 5WB
Legendary Creature- Angel Lord
Flying
Other Angel creatures you control get +1/+1 and are black.
Angels you control have Deathtouch.
For too long we have served lesser races. It is our time to take control.
4/4

Again with religious annotations! It's almost like the forum at large wishes to upset the most motivated Religious Army in the world; I like a good crusade as much as the next hunger starved, power-crazy dictator but let's not get into that. The card is, how do they say "Sufficient" but definitely lacks the grit I would hope to see but no matter.

FrycHiKn
Score: 3.625
Flavor Text: 3.25 Play-ability: 4
Originality: 3.75 Contest Flavor: 3.5

Rydia, Dragon Tamer - 1WW
Legendary Creature - Human Knight
Rydia, Dragon Tamer has flying as long as you control a Dragon.
All Dragons you control are White and gain vigilance.
“The man who fights too long against dragons becomes a dragon himself.” - Friedrich Nietzsche
1/4

Card's Abilities plus card's flavor text equals contradiction! So you take the line "Becomes a Dragon" and give the guy a "Dragon Rider" ability and change the Dragons instead!? Bravo sir, this card smells of disappointment.

Boiwithteeth
Score: 3.56
Flavor Text: 3.5 Play-ability: 5
Originality: 2.75 Contest Flavor: 3

Berendel, Biting Wind - 2U
Legendary Creature - Rebel
When Berendel, Biting Wind comes into play, choose a creature type.
2U: Return Berendel, Biting Wind to your hand.
T: Gain control of target creature of the chosen type.
Within minutes of meeting someone, Berendel had them seeing through his eyes. One way or another.
2/3

YAWN! You see, I say yawn because they won't allow me to ring you up and say it over the phone. The card is something I would expect to see R&D to create after a Saturday night at the pub but hey, at least you’ve created something that the real guys might just create. Tell me; how does the alcohol factor into your creative process?

Enough nonsense! These are pathetic. We need a set of judges to filter this crap out for us. Do I really have to pick a few people to move on?

Your Worst Nightmare
Score: 2.375
Flavor Text: 2.5 Play-ability: 2
Originality: 3 Contest Flavor: 2

Gamma, Defiant Myr - 6
Legendary Artifact Creature - Myr
All Myr have "T: You may tap or untap target artifact."
Sacrifice a noncreature artifact: Put a 1/1 Myr artifact creature token into play.
"The time of servitude is over. We're in control now."
4/4

I find the design interesting, but seriously a problem once it gets to playtesting if at all. I mean: Coretapper + Darksteel Reactor + this card = "Tap X Myr Creatures, put X tokens on Darksteel Reactor." At that point, add a Myr Incubator and call it a day. I hope your lackey isn't a Coretapper-esque card to break this.

BBLZ
Score: 2.75
Flavor Text: 3.5 Play-ability: 2.5
Originality: 2 Contest Flavor: 3

Brightscales, the Walker - 2WW
Legendary Creature - Merfolk Advisor
Merfolk creatures you control have plainswalk.
Sacrifice a Merfolk you control: Brightscales deals 2 damage to target attacking or blocking creature.
Cut your fins and walk as a man, or I will drown you in the depths of your own cowardice!
2/3

Someone's stuck in Lorwyn... Lorwyn is all "Happy Happy joy joy" not "Let's get them!". Also, the last time White hosed itself it was back before 6th Edition, seriously you think it would be a good idea to bring that theory back? Really? I suppose so since you gave it a card to do it. Besides those little missteps I find it OK overall.

Maleficent
Score: 2.625
Flavor Text: 3.5 Play-ability: 2.25
Originality: 2.25 Contest Flavor: 2.5

Cerzil the Ruined - 2BB
Legendary Creature - Human Cleric (R)
Pay 3 life: Return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand. Discard a card at end of turn.
"How malleable these creatures are. We took his sight, he's blind to God. We took those he cared for, he cares for no one. Fill those holes with something - anything - and you have a servant for life." - The Raven
2/1

I hope you know that your backstory saved you big time on Flavor. (Go read it people; I'm not repeating it here) Anyways, The Reanimation ability isn't really that great, I expected better from you Mal. I expected something powerful yet simple, but I only get half of it. Raise Dead + Discard for 3 life? Seriously I find that as a great ability, but also a shot for just anything to put on him. A rare this guy isn't, he's something but just not rare

Guest1234
Score: 2
Flavor Text: 2 Play-ability: 1
Originality: 2.5 Contest Flavor: 2.5

Boita, Silvertongue - 2G
Legendary Creature – Elf Shaman
T: Put a hope counter on target creature.
2GG, T: Gain control of all creatures with a hope counter until end of turn. They gain haste until end of turn.
The sound of the flute is the sound of freedom. When you hear it, rise and join me.
2/2

Flavor Text saves you from Failure - and the use of the "Hope" counter doesn't hurt either. I did recommend a change in thread for this creature so I'll just pass that up and call it clean. Of all the cards I hate - I find that I hate this one less. Gult-Leaf Archdruid would be proud to see this guy sitting around, because Green Control isn't a common thing (three in print cards with the term "Gain Control" alone) the body is well within Shock and Better Range so I expect it not to last long on the table before seeing the 'yard.

Compy286
Score: 1.375
Flavor Text: 1.5 Play-ability: 1.5
Originality: 2.5 Contest Flavor: 0

Alexander, Leader of the Immortals - 2RRU
Legendary creature- Human soldier wizard Mythic rare
all Wizard creatures you control have Haste
all Soldier creatures you control have Hellbent-this creature gets +2/+0 and attacks each turn if able.
Tap: ~ deals 3 damage to target creature or 2 damage to target player
"Tonight by the fury of this fire I swear
our spells will not wait nor our swords stop until we are victorious.
We are the voice crying out in the desert, hear us now. We are Immortals."- rally cry of the Immortals.
3/4

Where to begin... Oh heaven's where to being... OK

1) Not Revolutionary - Wizards are blue - and it's not unseen to have Red Soldiers - so that's a failure
2) Lose Hellbent it'll make it simplier. (put - this creature gets +2/+0 and attacks each turn if able if you control no cards in your hand)
3) Tap for Lightning Bolt - Shock yourself? No thanks. I'll pass.
4) Mythic Rare? Seriously this barely qualifies as a Rare in my book.

Highest Failure to grade yet, Failure is you.

Thanatos
Score: 1.5
Flavor Text: 2 Play-ability: 2
Originality: 1 Contest Flavor: 1

Randor, the Relic Keeper - 3GG
Legendary Creature - Treefolk Shaman
Sacrifice a Forest or Treefolk: ~ deals damage equal to its toughness to target creature
Tired of being asked for wisdom, Randor put turned his wisdom from sought after to feared
3/5

Sacrifice of creatures in Green doesn't normally happen, but it does, so I'll let that part of it slide, BUT the secondary ability is an improved Doran - which would be great for some - and a ***** to others. I find this card to be a complete mockery of Green, considering the ability is clearly a Black and Red deal.

Compy – you are no longer the highest Failure - Thanatos is.

*slams his hand on the table, the scene fades to black again…*

…Need some water MZ? A lot of yelling going on…

Blow it out…….

You can discuss this article in the MDV forums here.
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Articles Spotlights from 2008:
A Fresh Perspective: Stasis - Part One.
The Apprentice Magician - Part Six.
Design on a Dime: The Lunch Meat Edition!
Fit the Flavor 2008 - FINALE!
The Games People Play - Market & EDH.
Sarpadian Empires, Vol VII: Foreword.
More Evil Than Evil.
Pauper Chronicles: Top O' the Morningtide to You!
Words from the Streetz: Uncommon and Common Magical Treasures.
The Writers Guild: The Inside Scoop.